iOS 27 Siri searches across apps, but users can restrict access
Apple’s redesigned Siri in iOS 27 can search information across apps such as Notes and Messages, enabling more personalised responses. The feature relies on App Intents and may send data to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers for processing, raising privacy concerns for some users.
Users can limit access by turning off “Show Content in Search” for individual apps in Settings; Siri then will not retrieve information from those apps, even when asked directly. Apple says it does not retain data sent to its servers after processing and cannot see it. “Suggest App” and “Learn from this App” affect app recommendations and usage patterns, while on-screen awareness can still let Siri interpret screenshots, which may be sent to Apple’s servers.
- Siri can search app content to personalise answers.
- Turn off “Show Content in Search” per app to restrict access.
- Screenshots interpreted by Siri may be sent for processing.
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Siri is Apple's built-in voice assistant on iPhones and iPads, which answers users' questions and performs tasks. The latest version of iOS redesigns Siri to search information across multiple apps such as Notes and Messages, meaning it can provide more personalised responses based on your personal data. To do this, the feature involves sending data to Apple's servers for processing.
This feature raises questions about privacy, since personal information from across a user's apps is sent to Apple's servers for processing. Some users are concerned about this, while Apple states that it does not retain or view the information after processing.
Users can restrict what Siri accesses by turning off "Show Content in Search" for individual apps in settings. Other privacy controls affect app recommendations and whether Siri can interpret screenshots, though some features may still send data to Apple's servers.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of this feature emphasise the genuine utility that cross-app search provides, allowing Siri to become more helpful and personalised. They argue that Apple's Private Cloud Compute infrastructure is specifically designed to process data without Apple being able to access it, that users retain meaningful control through granular per-app settings, and that opting out is straightforward for those who prioritise privacy over functionality. From this perspective, the technical safeguards and user controls represent a reasonable balance between innovation and privacy protection.
The case against
Critics contend that sending personal data to any server, regardless of technical assurances, introduces unnecessary privacy risk that cannot be independently verified by ordinary users. They argue that privacy settings buried in menus place the burden on users to actively protect themselves rather than defaulting to privacy, and note that historical breaches and feature expansion suggest caution with personal information. From this perspective, data minimisation—limiting collection to what is strictly necessary—should take priority over convenience features.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Siri can index more of your personal data — here’s how to limit it”.